Windows batch copy files from subfolders to one folder

16
votes

I had tried to make batch script that copies all *.tif files located in D:\images(random named subfolders here) to d:\all.

xcopy D:\Downloads\*.TIF D:\temp\ /s

works, but it copies with all folder tree. I tried to use other keys, but its dont works. Thanks for help!

4
windowsbatch-filecopyxcopy

4 Answers

40
votes

FOR is your friend. Read HELP FOR on the /R option and the %~nx variable substitution; and then try this very simple code.

   pushd d:\downloads
   for /r %%a in (*.tif) do (
     echo COPY "%%a" "d:\temp\%%~nxa"
   )
   popd

watch carefully the results and then remove the ECHO command.

You will have to refine the code to cope with errors, duplicate names, edge cases, names with reserved characters, race conditions, cosmic events...

6
votes

Searched files using windows file explorer for e.g. *.gif , I got files in search window, used Edit=>Select All , copy and then pasted to desired folder. This copied all the gif files in all sub directories to single folder. For large number of files, it sometimes hangs/not responding, but otherwise works ok.

3
votes
pushd D:\Source
   for /r %%a in (*.?*) do (
       MOVE "%%a" "D:\Destination folder\%%~nxa"
   )
popd
1
votes

You can also use the XXCOPY freeware. Works like XCOPY, but when you use a /SG parameter, it flattens the sub-directories. See how to use it here.